Alligators and Affluence

Florida can be a study in contrast, as the drive along Alligator Alley reveals. This unique stretch of road leads to alligators and affluence, simplicity and luxury.

The wild Florida Everglades surround much of Alligator Alley.

Alligator Alley is, in fact, I-75. It runs from Fort Lauderdale, in Southeast Florida, to Naples, in Southwest Florida. In between, there isn’t much in the way of “civilization.” The bulk of the road traverses an enormous expanse of Florida Everglades, home to birds and alligators, not shops and eateries.

Alligator Alley isn’t a dirt road, but it feels like one. Your cell phone won’t work on most of Alligator Alley. There aren’t numerous gleaming pit stops. Fill your tank at the Miccosukee Indian Reservation when you get the chance. Take a moment to stop your car, wait for a lull in the traffic, and listen. Imagine what lurks on the other side of the fence.

Sunset in Naples.

A whole different world awaits at the end of the road in Naples–a world of tranquility and luxury. Naples is the kind of place to visit with the person you love. It has restaurants for intimate dinners and beaches for strolling hand in hand. There is affluence here, but little attitude; the atmosphere of Naples is relaxed and welcoming.